Hogtown Smoke

Hogtown Smoke has been open in the Beach(es) for less than a month, and already the food truck's brick and mortar offspring is on fire. Take-away orders start rolling in via phone before the doors even open, and in the evenings I'm told the wait is 45 minutes or longer.

Owners Scott and Kevin Fraser opened this 30-seat eatery after getting stuck in traffic and seeing the storefront for lease. The deal was sealed with the serendipitous inclusion of an enormous backyard that'll house the three smokers that Scott has already acquired, not to mention the new 500lb barrel smoker that's on order from Oklahoma. Future plans will see the outdoor kitchen set to one side to make room for seating next patio season.

Inside is warm and cozy. The decor employs reclaimed barn board, tin bucket light shades, and salvaged church pew seating. The menu is scrawled across a chalkboard wall and the bar at the back doubles as the takeout counter.

The menu is not cheap, but considering the generous portion sizes and top quality meats, nothing seems outrageous. Pig Out Platters ($64-$182) will feed three to 10 people and if you order it to stay, you'll draw envious glares from onlooking diners.

The full spread features a sampling of everything. There's pork ribs or beef ribs, brisket, pulled pork, Patron-infused chicken and wings.

A choice of three sides (at least) are included with the platters: hearty root beer-baked beans, cornbread muffins, slaw (creamy or vinegar based) or seasoned fries are among the options. Vegetarians should probably just sit this one out.

The glorious array of low and slow cooked meats are served au natural (not sauced) to show off their merits. Sliced brisket boasts black bark and a deep pink ring; crisp golden chicken skin encases juicy poultry that was steamed (thanks to Patron and lime juice injections) as it smoked; beef ribs that should've been cut down to short ribs but are instead served whole on mammoth bones. House-made sauces are offered on the side and come in seven varieties ranging from mild to hot and in unique flavours like peanut butter chipotle, mango habanero or ghost pepper hot sauce.

For dining singles and duos there are sandwiches ($13-$16), chicken dinners ($20) and sample platters ($26-$45) all served with a choice of at least two heaping sides.

Currently the bar pours pints of Beau's for $8, though there are plans to expand the selection with a soon-to-be-installed tap station. Shots of bourbon and tequila range from $5.75 to $14, and glasses of wine hover around $11.

Hogtown Smoke is open daily from noon until 10pm, but be warned that menu items do sell out. Diners looking to indulge should keep an eye out for specials like the $100 wagyu beef brisket and shrimp boils planned for next patio season.

I don't get the "patron" infused chicken? Patron is $100 at the LCBO and is total shit tequila. el jimador is way better and less than half the price. Plus, once you cook it, who cares! Switch to a cheaper tequila and pass on the savings.

Rule number 1 on the board says it all - 45 minute - hour wait for a table while your standing between patrons eating - a lot of pissed of patrons when we were there and haven't heard positive since. Here's a hint if you know nothing about running a restaurant partner up with someone that does. Food's okay but definitely not worth the hassle.

Another pretend deep-pit joint in Toronto. The ribs were dry, the pork was chemical tasting and the wings were nothing special. Overpriced crap that I waited 50 minutes to get. Luckily I have a Green Egg and a Broil King in my backyard and know how to use 'em.

You're offended??? Do you know of a rule that says restaurants must cater to religions? There are other places in the city that serve Jewish/Kosher food, why not seek them out instead of being 'offended'? People these days are offended for every single thing, and I am including you in this statement. Please tell me, what do you suggest the owners do so that you would return and not be offended?

Ate there on Saturday night, got a table without waiting luckily. ordered the platter for two. it came with half a chicken (I didnt taste any hint of Patron), a huge beef rib (with a big chunk of fat) and some dry pulled pork (the idea is you pick and mix your old sauce into it). The sides were ok (beans yum!) but the cornbread side was a single small muffin you had to share. The real problem is the price, it was $75 for this 2-person platter, a single beer ($8!?!?) and a pop.

That might be the case for some, but sodium nitrated dehydrated charred meat and idiotic prices are what's extremely offensive. Give this ding joint a pass. There are many excellent BBQ places in TO that know what customers like.

Good ribs are pretty to easy to make at home. Come em slow and low and then add some sides. They are also a pretty cheap cut to buy at the grocer / butcher. So I don't understand why in places like this they are so expensive? It boggles the mind.

Because we don't buy the cheap cuts. I understand what it seems like however with back ribs for example we buy ethically raised local product. And it's butchered to a size we spec. Average rack of backs at a chain or grocery store weighs 1.5 to 2.5 pounds. Ours average 2.5-4.5 lbs a rack. All of our margins are standard however we use premium quality product and have large sizes. So you can't really compare to a Swiss chalet or grocery cut rack. Not apples to apples. Then there is the two side dishes we include at no additional cost.

Thanks for pointing that out. That is appreciated. But let us know why 'many' BBQ houses take that same 'premium quality product' and COOK IT UNTIL IT IS DRY AS WOOD CHIPS? Great taste maybe but a helluva tough chew even after soaking the cuts in sauce and beer! Why? I know of one place lasted less than five months for that stunt.

I have eaten at Hogtown twice only to be diss appointed both times. Ordered the brisket sandwich, beans and slaw the first time and ended up with a stale bun, tasteless slaw and cold beans. Thought I'd give it another go and ordered Beef ribs that were super fatty and minimal meat, soggy sweet potato fries and cold beans over powered by onions. Never again. Aft in the east end is my choice from here on in. Oh and the $8 Beaus!?!? Give me a break.

Mmm.. Best short ribs ever... Great food, awesome staff, everyone sees bbq differently, what counts is that you get good food, great service... It could cost $5 or $20... If u leave satisfied then it don't matter... 3 visits to hogtown... Left satisfied all 3 times. Keep up the good work.

The city's loaded now with fly-by-night trendy food operations run by people who don't give a shit about anything except finding that delicate balance between obscene prices people will pay and barely edible food.

Burgers, tacos, BBQ, donuts, tea... take your pick. They've all been co-opted by ex-bankers and tweaked to a detriment, removing these simple, humble foods from a wide audience and firmly into SUV stroller territory. Based on location and price, I knew this place would suck. And it did.

Agree with you 100%, Todd. Maybe that explains the dryness of the products these fools serve - the finance cretins think they are still dealing in cold hard cash, not anything that resembles decent food. Buyer beware? Hell, buyer hide wallet and keep on walking.

To be fair, I know nothing about the background of these specific owners, but their place is definitely on this (awful) trend.

There were only a handful of places that were passionate about BBQ back when no one was asking for it... and now we're supposed to believe that it's such a passion one MUST open a restaurant? Yeah, don't buy that for a second.

How many of you guys have actually been to the restaurant? The service has been top notch both times I've been there, the atmosphere is very homey and the food has been great. Sure it's not the cheapest restaurant in the city but the quality of the food and the portions you're getting is more than what you need which is perfect for lunch the next day. Rather than hiding behind the internet, why not try it out yourselves and if you do get a dry batch tell them to their faces, I'm sure they'll appreciate the feedback regardless.

I've eaten good BBQ, but not at Hogtown Smoke. Dry pork back ribs, tasteless muffin, tasteless creamy slaw, bitter (too bitter for me to eat) vinegar slaw, and soggy fries. And all that for a price that's obscene even by Queen St/Beaches standards. If you want good food, go some place else.

That explains the desiccated quality of the food and minds of those who 'think' they serve there. Puts a potential patron in great fear of what kind of smoke is really making the ribs so damn dry. Heed Timothy's warning an steer clear of this ding-head joint.

crappy food if he can sell he puts it on his food truck ? stay away from these place as your pocket might get empty before you leave the place and your left overs will be served tomorrow to others from the food truck

Look, it is a brand new restaurant so growing pains are expected - show a little patience and give it some time people! Rule of Thumb: Never go to a restaurant in the first 90 days of opening. I think this place is going to surprise you in the coming months.

Had take out about weeks ago. I couldn't believe that they would only give two 1 oz containers of sauce with my order. I had to pay $4 extra to get 4 more sauce containers. I mean it wouldn't be so much of a rip off if you weren't given unlimited sauce if you sit in the dining area to eat. When I asked the hostess she said that they would be bottling the sauce and people could buy it along with their take out. So I'm going to pay $50 for a 2 person platter and another $6 for a bottle of sauce? No thanks, I'll spend my money at Barque instead, they give me as much sauce as I want stuff tastes better.

"Hogtown Smoke is definitely a place to visit with family or just friends looking for something slightly out of the ordinary. We compared this place with one of our favourite west end spots – Barque Smokehouse. Hogtown Smoke wins in terms of its patio and attention to detail, looses in terms of its sides (smoky popcorn and roasted corn were a big plus for us). Overall, Hogtown Smoke is one of the best places we visited in Toronto's east end so far.
PS: a family of raccoons decided to pay us a visit throughout the dinner. "

We were told we needed to wait to be seated when there were to empty tables. After 15 minutes we were seated at one of the empty tables. The other sat empty. We were told that the dinner for two (Miss Piggy) was suggested. We ordered two drafts of local beer for $18! When we were ready to order, we were told the beef ribs were an extra $21 not $12 as indicated on the menu. We opted to take the pork ribs only to be told they didn't have any ribs left. So instead of paying $56 for chicken wings and a dried bone, we went across the street to the Green Eggplant. Other couples in the neighbourhood tell us this place is a joke and will be folding up soon.

This place really isn't that great. The food is dry and tasteless. We got takeout since getting a place in the restaurant is tough.. boy, what a mistake that was. The waitress was rude and butchered the order - we got the wrong things only after noticing at home. Fortunately we live right next door - the reply? "Well, we didn't have one thing so we gave you another". Ok Missy.. how about you tell us before messing around with the order.
And another thing - when you clowns get your orders delivered at the rear, how about you have the trucks part on the side streets instead of blocking traffic in the rear for a "few minutes" which turns into 15 - 20.